1. Art and Diseño

DIVISION STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
“DRAGON TALES” NEWSLETTER
January 2015
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
By Dr. Greer E. Miller
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Assessments
The New York State Assessments for Grades 3 – 5 will be given on the following dates:
English Language Arts (ELA) April 14 – 16, 2015 (Grades 3, 4, 5)
Mathematics April 22 – 24, 2015 (Grades 3, 4, 5)
Science Performance May 21, 2015 4 (Grade 4)
Science Written June 1, 2015 (Grade 4)
Please make sure to schedule appointments on dates other than the ones listed above.
Character Education
The character education trait for the month of January is Tolerance.
Electronic Management System
Saratoga Springs City School District is pleased to announce the implementation of an
electronic visitor management system in all of our schools, Head Start and administration
offices.
The process is simple: The first time a visitor or volunteer visits a building, they will be
asked to present a driver’s license or other type of photo ID. The card will be scanned
into the Linstar Badgepass System and a self-expiring printed pass with the visitor’s
photograph will be issued. Every subsequent visit that an individual makes, the office
staff can pull up the record from the database and print a new pass. This process only
takes a few seconds to complete and will greatly enhance the security in all of our schools
as well as keep accurate records in case of an emergency.
The new systems were installed during the week of December 8th and replace the
previous sign-in process. Thank you for your patience as we continue our effort to
provide a safe environment for our students, staff and community.
Important Events
JANUARY
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Classes Resume
PTA Meeting (7 PM)
Pre-School Story Time (10:30 – 11:00 AM)
Two Hour Delay --- Professional Development (District-Wide)
PTA Two Hour Delay Movie
Student Council Hat Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
3rd Grade Choral Concert (6:30 PM)
Elementary Report Cards Issued
Lost & Found
At the end of each quarter (November 6th; January 29th; April 16th; June 25th) all
unclaimed lost and found items will be boxed and donated to a local charity. Please
check the lost and found to see if any of the items belong to your child.
Playground Winter Closure Procedure
During winter, it is still important that the students continue to have the opportunity to
play outdoors. While this is important for their health and well-being, it is equally
important to provide them with safe areas of play.
As a general rule, the district’s playgrounds are closed when:
1. Loose surfacing material is frozen.
2. The underneath layer is frozen to 12 inches.
3. Ice build-up is on the equipment.
In addition, students will be kept inside if the temperature or wind chill factors drop
below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Please continue to send your child in with winter appropriate clothing: coats, gloves,
hats, boots and snow pants.
Notes from the PTA Board
The PTA wishes all Division Street families a very happy New Year. Our first meeting this
year will be on January 7th at 7 PM. On January 14th we will be offering a movie during the
two your delay. We will also be hosting a very fun fundraiser on January 16th at Paint n Sip.
Watch for more information about both events coming home after the break.
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ACADEMIC INTERVENTION SERVICES (AIS)
By The AIS Teachers
Happy holidays from AIS Reading! December was a busy month. As we approach the
winter solstice, it’s the perfect time to get cozy under a blanket with a good book! Why
not consider reading one of the recommended books from Saratoga Reads, the
community reading program? For children, Saratoga Reads has announced a list of
“companion books” that will engage young readers of all levels. Below is a description of
the companion books for various grade levels. As a follow up to reading the book, be sure
to sign up for the book discussion happening at the Saratoga Springs Public Library that
will take place in February.
In the category of picture books (grades K–2), the selection is Smith’s Jingle Dancer,
with illustrations by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu. The book tells the story of
Jenna, a member of the Muscogee Nation who borrows jingles from the dresses of
several friends and relatives so that she can perform the jingle dance at the powwow. The
book includes notes about the jingle dance tradition and its regalia.
For grades 2–3, Saratoga Reads recommends Smith's Indian Shoes. In this collection of
interrelated stories, Ray Halfmoon, a Seminole-Cherokee boy, gets help from his
grandfather in finding creative and amusing solutions to life’s challenges.
The top choice for the grades 4–6 is The Heart of a Chief by local author and educator
Joseph Bruchac. In this story an 11-year-old Penacook Indian boy living on a reservation
faces his father's absence, a controversy surrounding plans for a casino on a tribal island,
and insensitivity toward Native Americans in his school and nearby town. As he
confronts these issues, he finds himself taking his first steps toward leadership.
The top choice for grades 6–8 is Rain Is Not My Indian Name. Tired of staying in
seclusion since the death of her best friend, a 14-year-old Native American girl takes on a
photographic assignment with her local newspaper to cover events at the Native
American summer youth camp.
The other top junior books were written by Cynthia Leitich Smith, a New York Times
best-selling author known for her fiction for young readers. She is a tribal member of the
Muscogee (Creek) nation.
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ART
By Mrs. Kate Spector
Happy New Year and Happy Winter! I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday
season with family and friends. Thank you to all of you who purchased Original Works
art products. Your continued support of the Division Street PTA and the arts is greatly
appreciated.
Throughout the month of January, some grades will continue to work on finishing up
projects that they started in December while other grade levels are moving on to their
next art projects. The projects are described below:
Kindergarten: Eric Carle Inspired Polar Bears: The kindergarten students will create
a polar bear piece of artwork, inspired by the well-known author and illustrator Eric
Carle. We will first read, Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear? Then the students
will learn how to draw a polar bear. They will also learn about the element of art,
texture. The students will also continue to work on their cutting, gluing, and tracing skills
in the art room as well.
1st - Snowman Collage: We will officially be welcoming winter into the art room! The
first grade students will start working on a snowman collage. They will use a variety of
materials to create a mixed-media snowman. They will learn about warm and cool
colors, perspective and basic values of color.
2nd - Ancient Greek Vases: The second grade students are continuing to work on their
Ancient Greek vases. They are working on adding the details to their vases using a
variety of materials.
3rd – Andy Warhol Inspired Tree Frogs: Last month in the December newsletter it was
stated that the 3rd grade students would complete a frog project. We did not end up doing
that project. This month however, the students will complete a frog project. The students
will study, Pop artist Andy Warhol. We will focus in on his Endangered Species series
and his Pine Barrens Tree frog. The students will use chalk pastels for this project.
4th Grade - Pagoda Paintings: The fourth grade students will draw and design their own
Pagoda’s. This project will tie in with the Chinese New Year, which will be celebrated
on February 19th this year. The students will learn about the architecture of the buildings
and how they were constructed, what they were used for etc. They will see that the
buildings are constructed of geometric and free-form shapes. Students will get the
chance to compare and contrast different buildings from other cultures as well. They will
use watercolor paints for this project.
5th - Rainforest Animals: The fifth grade students will create an animal from the
rainforest using a variety of art materials. This project will support what the students will
be learning about in their classroom on the rainforest. We will look at famous artists
such as, Henri Rousseau.
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HEALTH OFFICE NOTES
By Mrs. Debra Henry
January is here along with the threat of extreme cold weather and the threat of frostbite.
Frostbite occurs when skin tissue and blood vessels are damaged from exposure to
temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. It most commonly affects the toes, fingers,
earlobes, chin, cheeks and nose, body parts which are often left uncovered in cold
temperatures.
Frostbite has three stages of progression:
Frostnip- In this stage, the individual experiences a pins and needles sensation with the
skin turning very white and soft. No blistering occurs. This stage produces no permanent
damage and may be reversed by soaking in warm water or breathing warm breath on the
affected area.
Superficial Frostbite- In this stage, blistering may occur. The skin feels numb, waxy and
frozen. Ice crystals form in the skin cells and the rest of the skin remains flexible.
Deep Frostbite- This is the most serious stage of frostbite. In this stage, blood vessels,
muscles, tendons, nerves and bone may be frozen. This stage can lead to permanent
damage, blood clots and gangrene, in severe cases. No feeling is experienced in the
affected area and there is usually no blistering. Serious infection and loss of limbs
frequently occurs after frostbite reaches this stage. However, even with deep frostbite,
some frozen limbs may be saved if medical attention is obtained as soon as possible.
Frostbite risk can be reduced by practicing the following:
* Wear several layers of clothing when in extremely cold conditions since the air pockets
between the layers will help to retain warmth.
* Avoid going outdoors during extremely cold weather.
* When outside, shield the face and other body parts from the cold wind and temperatures
by wearing protective clothing, scarves, earmuffs, gloves, etc.
* Wear waterproof skin moisturizer on exposed areas.
* Do not spend extended periods in extreme temperatures when exhausted, intoxicated,
wet or under the influence of certain drugs.
PLEASE SEND ALL STUDENTS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WINTER CLOTHING:
Hat, gloves, boots, scarves, warm winter jacket.
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LIBRARY
By Mrs. Sarah Seniw
General News
Box Tops Contest
Reminder: The Box Tops Snowball Contest is taking place during the month of
January. Box Tops are tiny coupons located on the tops of most General Mills products.
Clip them, tape/staple ten at a time to the “Hooray for Snow Days” sheets (available in
the library), and then send them in to the library! For every sheet that is collected, $1.00
will be donated to the Division Street School Library. FYI-When clipping the coupons,
please make sure the expiration date is visible AND has not expired. Thank you for
your support!
Saratoga Reads Junior
The Saratoga Reads Junior Advisory Group has selected the book Heart of a Chief by
Joseph Bruchac as the junior companion to the 2014-2015 Saratoga Reads adult
selection: The Round House by, Louise Erdrich. A two-part discussion will be held on
February 5 and February 12 from 6:30-8pm at the Saratoga Springs Public Library under
the leadership of Dr. Catherine J. Golden and a team of mentors from Skidmore College
and Saratoga High School. The book discussion group is open to fourth-sixth graders.
Registration is required. Students are asked to attend both sessions. Students may register
by emailing their name, grade, and school to [email protected]. Each student will
be given a copy of the book after registration. For a full list of other Junior Companion
titles (especially those for younger readers) visit the following link:
http://saratogareads.org/juniorbooks.cfm.
Kindergarten
During the month of January, we will reinforce the difference between fiction (make
believe) and nonfiction (true) books through an author study on Jan Brett. Jan Brett loves
to write fictional stories about animals. We will share many of her stories including: The
Hat, The Umbrella, Honey, Honey Lion! and The Three Snow Bears. Students will have
fun comparing the fictional animals (as they are portrayed in her stories) with the real
ones showcased in non-fiction books, magazine articles and websites. Students will also
be encouraged to spend some extra time exploring and checking out books from the
nonfiction section of the library.
Grades 1 -3
In January, First, Second and Third graders will share the Saratoga Reads junior
companion book Jingle Dancer written by Cynthia Leitich-Smith. Jingle Dancer “tells
the story of Jenna, a member of the Muscogee Nation who borrows jingles from the
dresses of several friends and relatives so that she can perform the jingle dance at the
powwow. The book includes notes about the jingle dance tradition and its regalia.”
(www.saratogareads.org). We will discuss themes such as cultural heritage, tradition,
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family and community which are also present in the adult Saratoga Reads book, The
Round House by Louise Erdrich.
Grades 4 & 5
In January, Fourth and Fifth graders will share excerpts from the Saratoga Reads junior
companion book Heart of a Chief written by Joseph Bruchac. Heart of a Chief “is the
story of an 11-year-old Penacook Indian boy living on a reservation who faces his father's
absence, a controversy surrounding plans for a casino on a tribal island, and insensitivity
toward Native Americans in his school and nearby town. As he confronts these issues, he
finds himself taking his first steps toward leadership.” (www.saratogareads.org). We will
discuss themes such as cultural heritage, tradition, family and community which are also
present in the adult Saratoga Reads book, The Round House by Louise Erdrich.
MUSIC
By Mrs. Melissa Ferrie-Healy
Happy New Year! I wonder what fun and exciting things 2015 has in store for us? Well
here’s one thing:
Division Street Pride Chorus (comprised of volunteer singers from grades 3-5) has been invited
to perform the National Anthem at the Adirondack Flames vs. Rochester hockey game at the
Glens Falls Civic Center at on Saturday, January 31st at 7:00 PM. I apologize CHANGE OF
DATE, but we were apparently rebooked due to a management change.
Kindergarten students will continue to work toward becoming more “beat-ful” movers
and players, and more “tuneful” singers. We will learn songs about snow and snowmen,
play singing games with Jan Brett’s The Mitten and perform “Rockin’ Rhythm Raps”
with sticks.
1st Grade students will learn about “families” of instruments in the music room, classified
by TIMBRE: wood, metal and skin. We will then learn about the “families” of
instruments found in the orchestra: string, woodwind, brass and percussion. This unit
will likely run over into February and will culminate with an interactive study of
Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.
2nd Grade students will build their music reading and writing skills as we practice
rhythmic and melodic dictations and try our hand at composing simple pieces to share
with one another. During our chorus time, we will continue to work on vocal technique
in order to become strong, independent singers.
3rd Grade students will be very busy preparing for their Third Grade Concert, which
will be a musical celebration of the Chinese New Year. This special event will take place
on Thursday January 29th at 6:30 PM. Please be sure to mark your calendars! You
won’t want to miss out! During our recorder lessons, we will learn to play waltz, march,
and calypso variations of our well-known “Hot Cross Buns” theme.
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4th Grade students will continue their study of American work songs, moving on to sea
chanteys. We will also learn the purple belt song for Recorder Karate: “Old
MacDonald.” During chorus time we will begin preparation for our Fourth & Fifth
Grade Spring Concert, which is scheduled for Monday March 16th at 6:30 PM. All
students will be expected to participate, so please mark your calendars!
5th Grade students will build ensemble skills as they rehearse a variety of music,
including a special chorded ensemble piece in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We
will also continue our recorder studies with the brown belt Recorder Karate song,
“Amazing Grace.” As with 4th grade, our chorus time we will be spent preparing for our
Fourth & Fifth Grade Spring Concert, which is scheduled for Monday March 16th at
6:30 PM. This is our final concert at Division Street – your last chance to participate - so
please mark your calendars! Every voice truly does count.
Also, please be reminded that all students in grades 3-5 need to bring their
recorders and music folders to every music class. If needed, a new Yamaha soprano
recorder may be purchased in the Music Room for $5.
Thanks to all our students for making our School-Wide Holiday Sing-along such an
enjoyable event last month. A good time was had by all! Our next school-wide singalong will take place on Flag Day, Friday June 12th!
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
By Coach Armstrong
K-2 Students will be taking a trip to the "circus" when they return from break. We will
have a circus unit for the entire week where students will learn all different types of skills
used during a circus performance. These include: juggling, balancing, plate spinning,
rhythm sticks and much more! After we finish our circus week we will begin striking
with instruments. Students will work with the pillow polo sticks in order to move balls
around the gym. These skills will be incorporated into fun games for the younger
students.
3-5 Students will also be taking part in the circus the first week back from break. We will
be working on skills such as tumbling, partner acrobatics, balancing on the globe ball,
and juggling! After our week at the circus we will be starting our hockey unit working on
skills such as stick handling, shooting, passing and defense.
Throughout the month I will be providing the students with information about possible
opportunities available throughout the community to get involved in programs outside of
PE class. (Soccer, Football, Basketball, Dance, Gymnastics etc...)
"7 days without exercise makes one weak!"
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SPECIAL EDUCATION NEWS
By Mrs. Judith Dorflinger and Ms. Katie Staulters
We hope everyone had a great holiday, got plenty of rest during the vacation, and are
ready to begin the New Year with new things to learn and do!
Beginning this month (January) there will be new After-School Instructional Programs in
ELA and Math for grades 1 – 5. Your child may be recommended for one (or both) of
these programs by his/her Classroom Teacher, the AIS Teacher, or the Special Education
Teacher. The programs are designed to improve the student’s academic performance,
study habits, and self-esteem. Transportation is provided for the programs taking place
on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. If you do not see a letter of recommendation for
one of these programs but feel your child could benefit from it, please let your child’s
teacher know that you would be interested in having your child attend.
The New Year is already starting to be a busy month. Whether your child is in
Kindergarten or 5th Grade, don’t forget to take time to sit and read with him/her. It’s
always the best time of the day!
STUDENT COUNCIL
By Mrs. Melissa Ferrie-Healy & Mr. Mike Farrell – Co-Advisors
Many thanks to all the families who helped make our district-wide food drive a success
last month. Our school collected over 1,413 items! Our top collecting classes were Mrs.
Israel’s class (137 items) and Mrs. Anatriello’s class (166 items), so they will be enjoying
their choice of a pizza or ice cream party (or comparable alternative) sometime soon.
This month, we have Hat Day to look forward to on Friday, January 16th. Time to get
creative! Each class will vote on two winning hats. The winners will receive certificates
for an ice cream treat in our cafeteria. Good luck to all!
Coming soon: Student Council & Junior Olympics on Friday, February 13th.
THE BUS STOP
From the Transportation Department
“The Bus Stop” is an informational section provided by the Transportation Department.
On a periodic basis we will share topics on some of our commonly requested information
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Bus Drivers Needed!!
Do you love kids? Have you ever thought about becoming a school bus driver? Parents
and grandparents make our best employees! You can be home with your children on
holidays, school recesses, snow days and during the summer. It is also a great job for
retired persons looking for additional income. We offer a paid training program with
bonuses, competitive salary, benefits for permanent employees and a good work
environment. Apply at the transportation department…we look forward to meeting you.
Bus Stops and Winter
With the onset of winter and the associated conditions that go with it, this is a good time
to remind your children of Bus Stop Safety.
1. Be at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to the scheduled time. Stay away from the
roadway while waiting.
2. Don’t play around or on snowbanks.
3. Wait for the bus to stop completely before approaching it. Always walk…never
run toward the bus.
4. The bus horn is a danger signal. If you hear it, STOP, and return to the side of the
road.
5. Be sure mittens, gloves and hats are secure so they don’t get caught in the door.
6. Be sure to use the handrail when getting on and off the bus.
WEE DELIVER
By Mrs. Judith Dorflinger
WEE DELIVER Team 2 (Charlie Barnes, Baylee Fensterer, Matthew Sullivan, Jacob
Dowen) did a great job delivering the Holiday Mail and distributing all the candy canes
to the students who completed the Holiday picture.
Team 2 will continue their assignment until January 30, 2015.
We are very grateful to all of the classes for the letter writing they have been doing.
Keep mailing those letters!
COMMUNITY ORIENTED NEWS
SAGE Tuition Reward from Saratoga Strategic Partners
SAGE was developed by educational visionaries, including the former Director of
Admissions and Financial Aid at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of
Pennsylvania.
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SAGE Tuition Reward Points represent guaranteed minimum scholarships – discounts on
undergraduate tuition starting with the freshman year – provided by member private
colleges and universities. Public (state) colleges and universities give very limited
amounts of financial aid that is not based on “need” and are thus not eligible to
participate in tuition Rewards. For complete information, visit www.tuitionrewards.com.
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